The Walrus Says

By Jim Munro

Diana Brown told us she thinks the Fleetwoods recorded it.

On this day in 1938 the Great Hurricane struck the area. We were a 6-year-old first-grader at Carey School in Newport. They let us out of school early to walk home. We got there safely, but some Jamestown students weren't so lucky. *** Finally, some common sense. John A. Murphy sent this email to Town Planner Lisa Bryer last Friday. "In my mind's eye, I can see it clearly: a great addition to the stock of affordable housing in Jamestown, created in a truly 'painless' fashion. "And how might that pipe dream be achieved? "By using the space between the two water towers! "Don't scoff! Don't dismiss it out of hand as outlandish! "Think of a steel framework, going up eight or 10 stories. Each story contains an efficiency apartment, a home for a Jamestown senior anxious to continue living in our vibrant village, close to everything they need. For them, small and cozy, but handily located, is beautiful. "The apartment tower would be serviced by an elevator. A stairway for emergency access/egress would also be provided. "We could convert an ugly, industrial-looking installation into something attractive, something useful. Even the towers themselves could be made a component of handsome design. Think 'trompe l'oeil,' that is French for 'fools the eye.' The tanks could be painted in such a way so as to look to the casual observer to be part of the structure. "We could have a contest to create the best desisgn. A true challenge to our very creative architects. "Grist for your mill, humbly submitted." Or we could call it Murphy's Marvel. *** We had no takers on Charlie Masso's poser of why Frank Sinatra selected the beautiful titles he did for his album "In The Wee Small Hours of The Morning." Here's why, according to Charlie.: "All of the songs reflected his doomed relationship with Ava Gardner, whom he would love for the rest of his life. Back to the Old Lamplighter. ***

Has anyone seen a blue cockateil with red cheeks and a yellow head doing bebop in the treetops?

That would be Hoshie (little assistant in Japanese), who, Elizabeth Burley said flew out the kitchen door of her home on Green Lane some four weeks ago. Elizabeth had given up on ever seeing the 4-year-old, 12-inch-tall bird again. However, on a trip to McQuade's, where she had posted a lost-and-found note, she was told a woman on the north end had a cockateil fly on her shoulder but the bird flew off again.

"He's so social he'll land on your shoulder. Hold out your finger, and he'll land on it and go into the house with you. He's very tame," Elizabeth explained.

Hoshie's signature is his continual bebopping and sometimes expressions of jazz. That's hard to miss.

North-enders might try a little bebopping in their back yards to draw him in.

Elizabeth is concerned that when the cold weather settles in it could be Hoshie's swan song.

She's offering a reward. If you see Hoshie, call her at 952-4477.

***

We told our readers a couple of weeks ago about folks in the area having their homeowner policies dropped by certain insurance companies.

Our insurance coverage ran out today. To protect ourselves we signed a contract at a cost almost three times what we have paid in the past. The action by our former company is called redlining, and it is against the law in Rhode Island. We call it extortion.

Where is our state attorney general in all this?

***

Jim Pemantell is in training again.

We caught him running on North Road early one morning last week and called later to find out what was going on.

It seems the 68-year-old was looking for a small event for his 41st marathon and found the Steamtown Marathon in Scranton, Pa., on Oct. 8. It just so happens that's where his wife, Ann Marie, is from. "I'll be running right through her old neighborhood," he explained.

Also living in that area are Jim's brother-in-law Joe Gracik and his wife, Paulette, and Ann Marie's sister, Nancy Simons. They'll all be out cheering Jim on in his first Steamtown Marathon.

"It'll be a fun weekend," he said, then corrected himself. "We'll find out about mile 21 if it's a fun weekend or not."

***

Keep those Box Tops for Education coming!

***

Wondering about all those shots your pets receive? Dr. Joshua

Hatch of the Jamestown Animal Clinic explains their function in his Pet Tip of the Week.

"Despite bringing their pets in for annual vaccines, many owners are unsure about what their pets are being vaccinated against. For dogs, the 'distemper' vaccine is a single injection that can booster their immunity to between four and nine different infections depending on the type used. Protection against distemper, parainfluenza, parvovirus, and adenovirus are in most vaccines.

"Distemper is a viral disease that is often fatal and can affect the respiratory, digestive, and neurological systems. Parainfluenze and adenovirus are respiratory diseases, while parvovirus is a very serious viral infection of the intestines that leads to severe dehydration, sepsis, and often death.

"Many puppy vaccines include protection against coronavirus, another intestinal disease, but one which older dogs are not susceptible too. Next week I'll talk about the four other diseases that the 'distemper' vaccine may include and eventually discuss cat vaccines, too." WOOF!

***

Kudos to Joan McCauley, Barbara Haskell, and Constance Andrews who in their letters to the editor last week introduced the facts about the Jamestown Community Theatre and Matt Bolles to Schnack & Co.

***

So much for the weathermen. How can so many be so wrong?

***

If you've never hugged a tree, now's your chance.

The annual tree inventory takes place Saturday and is in need of volunteers to identify and site trees, measure diameters, check condition, and help locate areas to plant new trees.

The event is sponsored by the town's Tree Preservation and Protection Committee.

No experience is necessary and all are invited to participate.

Meet at the police station at 9 a.m. for orientation and team asignments.

***

Up until last weekend, Stacey Martin's New England Intensity were ahead 4-1 in their league standings.

***

Football announcers can dampen a game by second guessing the coaches and officials. Just call the game, please.